WASHINGTON (NNN-Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama declared on Friday a state of emergency for New York state as Hurricane Irene is approaching the U.S. East Coast, threatening to wreak massive havoc on its path.The declaration mandates the coordination of disaster relief efforts among federal agencies, including the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will provide federal emergency aid to the New York state.
The federal agencies will specifically help the counties of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau and Suffolk to carry out future relief efforts in the wake of the hurricane.
Irene, estimated to threaten over 65 million residents living along the East Coast, is expected to hit the New York City and Long Island on Sunday. Authorities have warned that the "historic" hurricane could bring massive flooding, power outages and property damages on its path.
Earlier Friday, the New York City issued a hurricane warning, the first since 1985, ordering about 300,000 residents along the coastal area to evacuate ahead of Irene's arrival.
Hurricane warnings have been issued along a stretch of the East Coast from North Carolina in the south to New England to the north. State of emergency have already been declared in seven states, including North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey, with several coastal cities ordered to be evacuated.
As of Friday afternoon, Irene was causing heavy rain, high wind and rough seas along the coast of North Carolina.
Obama cut short his vacation in Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts on Friday to return to Washington a day ahead of schedule, to deal with the emergency situation related to Hurricane Irene.
The White House made the announcement shortly after Obama issued a statement from his vacation site, calling on residents on the East Coast living in the projected path of Hurricane Irene to take it "seriously," and get prepared in advance of the "historic" storm.
Obama convened a conference call Friday morning and was briefed by Napolitano, Fugate, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley and other senior administration officials about the preparations for Hurricane Irene.
The U.S. Defense Department said on Friday that it is providing support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) efforts in preparation for Hurricane Irene's expected landfall along the east coast of the U.S. mainland, mobilizing resources and personnel to counter the storm.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta directed U.S. Northern Command to provide support as identified by FEMA in light of the projected path of the storm. Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts have all been designated FEMA Incident Support Bases.
The Pentagon also pre- positioned 225 trucks loaded with equipment, food, water, and generators at Bragg. Supplies and equipment are in the process of being moved to the other bases.
According to FEMA, Fort Bragg is been using as a staging and distribution center for North Carolina, where Irene is projected to hit first. FEMA has staged 390,000 meals and more than 380,000 liters of water at Fort Bragg.
In addition, 18 military helicopters are deployed to the Northeastern United States for life saving and life sustaining support should it be needed. These aircraft are being pre- positioned close enough to render swift assistance, but out of the way of the Irene's path.
The Pentagon said approximately 101,000 National Guard members are available to the governors of the East Coast states, territories and the District of Columbia if needed. -- NNN-XINHUA
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